Taktika Fairmont

A Memorable Stay During Our Daughter’s Move-In at UC San Diego My wife, eldest daughter, and I had the pleasure of staying at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar last week while moving our daughter into UC San Diego — and the experience was nothing short of exceptional. From the moment we arrived, the service was top-notch. A special thank you to Sage, Guest Services Supervisor, who gave us a warm and thoughtful welcome. We also appreciated the professionalism and hospitality of Nenad, Nathan, and Amanda in the executive office — they truly made us feel at home. The accommodations were excellent, and the adult spa pool team provided engaging, attentive service that elevated our relaxation time. It was also a pleasure to meet Swamy, Director of Engineering, who was actively out on the property ensuring everything was running smoothly — a great sign of leadership. And a shoutout to Shea, Food & Beverage Manager, whom I met while enjoying a morning coffee — your passion for hospitality shines through. Thank you to the entire team for making our stay so memorable. Keep up the great work — we look forward to returning!

I had high expectations for what was advertised as a 5-star luxury hotel, but what I experienced was anything but luxurious. From the moment we arrived, it was clear that this property is not equipped to handle the level of service and hospitality it promises. Staff & Service: The staff across the entire property were incredibly slow and inattentive. From check-in to room service and everywhere in between, we were met with long waits, lack of communication, and a general sense of disorganization. It didn’t feel like a luxury experience – it felt like they were understaffed and overwhelmed. Dining Options: There was only one main restaurant on-site, which is baffling for a resort claiming to be five-star. The menu was extremely limited, uninspired, and repetitive. The kids’ menu was even worse – the same four items were offered everywhere: in the restaurant and by the pool. No variety, no thoughtfulness, just the bare minimum. Event Experience – Wedding Disaster: We were attending a wedding during our stay and were horrified to find the ballroom’s A/C wasn’t working. The room was hot, stuffy, and completely unpleasant. The air quality was so bad that even the staff working the event looked visibly distressed and uncomfortable. It completely ruined what should have been a beautiful celebration. Fire Alarm Incident: As if that wasn’t enough, the fire alarm went off for no apparent reason during our stay. Security evacuated the entire building, which is understandable, but when I explained that my baby was upstairs in our room, they refused to let me go to her. I was forced to wait in a chaotic and stressful situation, not knowing if she was okay. My older daughter suffered a panic/anxiety attack during the ordeal, and there was little to no support or empathy from the staff. Overall Experience: This stay was not just disappointing — it was stressful, chaotic, and unacceptable on so many levels. This hotel is not ready to carry a 5-star label, and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone looking for a relaxing or safe stay. We left more exhausted and distressed than when we arrived. Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ (1 out of 5) Do yourself a favor and book elsewhere.

We came to the Grand Del Mar for our anniversary. The property is beautiful. The pools were nice, the room was lovely and comfortable. We had lovely dining experiences at Amaya with respect to the wait staff and they also brought us drinks and a dessert to celebrate our anniversary. The steak was not, however, worth the price in our opinion. Unfortunately, the overall experience was not quite what we expected from a resort of this caliber. For instance, there was no sunscreen at the pool either day after we were told there would be. The service at the pool was incredibly slow. It took upwards of 40 min to get chips and dip. The second day we were at the pool, there were no cups out at the water dispensers at the pool and the water clearly had not been changed from the day before as it was close to empty. When pool service started at 11, we asked for water right away. We were told they would be coming around with water shortly. I watched the waiter take water to most other people but not us. My husband finally got up and found the pitcher himself after we waited at least 20 minutes. Another strange thing that happened was that someone came to check our minibar around 6 pm in the evening when we were getting ready for dinner. Our room had not been ready until about 4, so it was surprising they needed to get in so soon after to check something. We used spa services the first day we were there and our massages were amazing. The facilities were nice. However, no one told us there was a co-ed relaxation area, so we waited separately before our massages. My husband had to go out and ask for assistance after waiting awhile in the locker area not knowing how anything worked. Overall, we did enjoy our stay. All of these little concerns though would give us pause in a booking a future stay. We have been to other luxury resorts in the area and have experienced better customer service and care elsewhere.

Let me start by saying that we have stayed in a number of wonderful properties and were truly impressed. I took my wife, two of our kids and spouses, and 3 grandchildren to celebrate my wife's significant birthday. What a time we had!! It started when we drove up. The greeting by the valet's was friendly, efficient and helpful. They worked well together as a team, to get us situated. The rooms were exceptionally clean, nicely appointed, quiet, comfortable, and towels were fluffy and large. After all it's the little things that make you really notice. The time we spent at the pool with our grandkids and some other family members that showed up to join us was wonderful. Food service at the pool, which frequently arrives late and cold at most places, was timely, with good food and drinks enjoyed by all. We only had breakfasts there but If the dinners are as good as the breakfasts were, you'll be in for a treat. All in all, we couldn't have asked for a better time and my wife was thrilled with the family moment to remember. We're going definitely going back again to enjoy a truly special place.